Naval Light Combat Aircraft, MIG29 K Fighter Aircraft successfully take-off on INS Vikrant

Tags: Science and Technology

Light Combat Aircraft (Navy) and MIG29 K Fighter Aircraft on 6 February successfully performed a maiden landing and take off from India's first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant.

An overview of the news

• This shows India's prowess in designing, developing, producing and operating aircraft carriers with indigenous fighter aircraft.

• India's first Made in India aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was commissioned into the Navy by Narendra Modi on 2 September 2022 at the Kochi Shipyard.

• With this, India has joined the list of countries with the capability to build more than 40,000 ton class aircraft carriers.

• INS Vikrant is built by Cochin Shipyard Limited. It has been designed by the Warship Design Bureau, formerly known as the Directorate of Naval Design. It is the in-house design organization of the Indian Navy.

MIG29 K Fighter Aircraft

• Navy's MiG-29K aircraft has been upgraded by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) with air-to-air and air-to-surface weapons.

• The MiG-29K, which is procured by the Navy directly from Russia, is equipped with weapons of Russian origin.

• HAL has also initiated integration of indigenous weapons such as Astra on the MiG-29K.